Best MIT Alumni Podcasts (2025)

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Thad Westbrook: Leading Higher Education Reform at the University of South Carolina 45:53

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18d ago45:53

45:53

ACTA's Nick Down interviews Thad Westbrook, chairman of the University of South Carolina's (USC) Board of Trustees. Mr. Westbrook earned his bachelor's degree in political science from USC and his J.D. from the USC School of Law. A member of the USC Board since 2010, he spearheaded the creation of USC's Center for American Civic Leadership and Publ…

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From Combat to Career: Harnessing Emotional Intelligence to Overcome Challenges 16:19

27d ago16:19

16:19

In this episode, we sit down with Christopher Jimenez—combat veteran, engineer, and founder and coach at EQ-Discovery. Chris shares his personal journey from military service to engineering and entrepreneurship, revealing how emotional intelligence has been a guiding force along the way. Through his story, we explore how EQ can help us navigate lif…

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Dr. Sreenivas Koka, EMBA ’13: From Dentistry to Leadership Through Empathy and Impact 33:26

1M ago33:26

33:26

In this episode of Sloanies Talking with Sloanies, host Christopher Reichert, MOT ’04, interviews Dr. Sreenivas Koka, EMBA ’13, about how his multicultural upbringing and MIT Sloan experience transformed his approach to dentistry and leadership, emphasizing empathy and value-based care. Starting his academic journey at 19 at the University of Michi…

1
Lee Strang: Revitalizing Civics Education in the Buckeye State 41:00

2M ago41:00

41:00

ACTA president Michael Poliakoff speaks with Lee Strang, the inaugural director of the new Salmon P. Chase Center for Civics, Culture and Society at the Ohio State University. He is also a professor at OSU's Moritz College of Law, the author of numerous books on Constitutional law, and the founder of Northwest Ohio Classical Academy. Professor Stra…

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Executive Leadership Series: Rafael Patron 52:40

2M ago52:40

52:40

In today’s episode, we are featuring Rafael Patron, the Plant Senior Director at Tenaris. The audio you will hear is from Texas A&M’s Master of Engineering Technical Management’s Executive Leadership Speaker Series. At this series, Rafael spoke to METM students about his leadership journey and provided insights and advice to help guide students as …

1
Building Bridges for Higher Ed Accreditation Reform 33:25

2M ago33:25

33:25

Description: In this episode of Higher Ed Now, ACTA Policy Research Fellow Kyle Beltramini and Third Way Education Policy Advisor Emily Rounds discuss how accreditation became a mainstream political issue overnight. They also examine the urgent need for modernization of the current system, as well as how both Democrats and Republicans can advance r…

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METM Alumni Spotlight: Julianne Sanscartier 9:54

3M ago9:54

9:54

In today’s episode, we are talking to Julianne Sanscartier. She currently works as an Engineer 3 at Los Alamos National Laboratory and graduated with her Master of Engineering Technical Management (METM) degree in 2024. Today, we discuss moving into management at a young age, her leadership style, and the skills she took away from the METM program.…

1
Douglas Ginsburg & Deecy Gray: Teaching Civics Amid Academia's Pushback 47:36

3M ago47:36

47:36

In this episode, ACTA President Michael Poliakoff discusses solutions to our nation's civic education crisis with distinguished jurist Douglas Ginsburg and his wife, Dorothy "Deecy" Gray. Judge Ginsburg previously served as chief judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit and is currently a professor at George Mason Uni…

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Yurui (Rui) Tong, MBAn ’21, on Tackling Hard Problems, AI in Practice, and the Power of Storytelling 28:17

4M ago28:17

28:17

In this episode of Sloanies Talking with Sloanies, host Christopher Reichert, MOT ’04, interviews Yurui (Rui) Tong, MBAn ’21, a graduate of the MIT Sloan Master of Business Analytics program. Tong, reflects on her educational and professional journey through a personal lens of self-discovery and curiosity. Though passionate about logic and reasonin…

1
Leading Successful Enterprise-Wide Technology Rollouts with Branden Ramsey 13:07

4M ago13:07

13:07

In this episode, we are featuring Branden Ramsey. Branden works at Axiom Space as the Senior Director of Digital Transformation. Today, Branden discusses how to lead successful enterprise-wide technology rollouts. He delves into how to overcome the challenges of these rollouts, as well as the tools and tactics that lead to successful ones. Technica…

1
Richard Haass: Guarding Democracy by Teaching Civics 38:57

4M ago38:57

38:57

ACTA president Michael Poliakoff speaks with Richard Haass, distinguished diplomat and president emeritus of the Council on Foreign Relations. Dr. Haass has served four U.S. Presidents over 25 years, including two years leading the Irish peace process as the U.S. Special Envoy for Northern Ireland. He is the author or editor of fourteen books on Am…

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METM Alumni Spotlight: Tyler Esters 9:30

5M ago9:30

9:30

In this Alumni Spotlight episode, we speak with Tyler Esters, Plant Manager at Closure Systems International and a 2024 graduate of the METM program. Tyler shares his experience returning to school as a working professional and father, how he balances family life and work with school, and the skills he gained through the METM program. Listen to hea…

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Snejina Zacharia, SF ’13: From MIT Classroom to Insurance Disruptor 32:06

5M ago32:06

32:06

In this episode, Snejina Zacharia, SF ’13, a 2013 MIT Sloan Fellow from Bulgaria, transformed a personal insurance frustration into a $500 million business by founding Insurify, the "Kayak of insurance." After a minor car accident during her time at MIT caused her premiums to spike, she discovered the absence of a comprehensive insurance comparison…

1
Free Speech Soars at GMU Law School 24:12

5M ago24:12

24:12

Dubbed "Washington's School for Civil Discourse," George Mason University's (GMU) Antonin Scalia Law School exposes students to all legal and political viewpoints and leads them in civil, respectful debate. In this episode of Higher Ed Now, ACTA's Bryan Paul interviews JoAnn Koob, assistant professor of law and director of the Antonin Scalia Law Sc…

1
Reinvigorating Civil Discourse at M.I.T. 28:31

6M ago28:31

28:31

MIT Concourse is a program for first-year students at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology that "brings science into conversation with the humanities." It also hosts the Civil Discourse Project, which seeks to "reinvigorate the open exchange of ideas at MIT." In this episode of Higher Ed Now, ACTA's Bryan Paul interviews Senior Lecturer Linda …

1
Inside the Master of Engineering Technical Management Capstone with Denise Sherrod 7:54

6M ago7:54

7:54

In this episode, we speak to Denise Sherrod, Chief of Automation at Occidental Petroleum. Denise shares the story behind her Capstone Project, which she completed during her time in the Master of Engineering Technical Management program. Tune in to hear how she approached the project, what made it successful, and how it continues to influence her l…

1
Civil Discourse Surges at UNC-Greensboro 37:31

6M ago37:31

37:31

ACTA's Program Coordinator for the College Debates and Discourse Alliance, Kayla Johnston, returns to her alma mater, the University of North Carolina (UNC)–Greensboro, for a conversation with two student leaders: Lauren Fletcher and Matt Kircher. Thanks to the generous support of the Barnes Family Foundation, the College Debates and Discourse Alli…

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John Hillen: American Civics and Student Leadership 46:35

6M ago46:35

46:35

ACTA President Michael Poliakoff welcomes The Honorable John Hillen, distinguished resident fellow at the Center for Politics in Duke University's Sanford School of Public Policy and an executive-in-residence of the Political Science Department. Dr. Hillen is a combat veteran and Bronze Star recipient, a former assistant U.S. secretary of state, a …

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Zagros Madjd-Sadjadi: Expanding Civil Discourse at Winston-Salem State University 48:49

7M ago48:49

48:49

This episode features Zagros Madjd-Sadjadi, professor of economics at Winston-Salem State University. Dr. Madjd-Sadjadi has more than 30 years of teaching and economic consulting experience and was formerly the chief economist of the city and county of San Francisco. His work has been cited in the Congressional Record and led to the repeal of the G…

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Creating Psychological Safety from the Inside Out: A Neuroscience Perspective with Dr. Noushin Bayat 25:44

7M ago25:44

25:44

In today’s episode, we are featuring Dr. Noush Bayat. Dr. Bayat works with clients for Executive Leadership Coaching and Consulting, including being one of the Personal Leadership Coaches for Texas A&M’s METM program. In this episode, Dr. Bayat discusses the neuroscience and importance of creating psychological safety in a workplace environment. Te…

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Raafet Azzouz, SFMBA ’24: Stories, Strategy, and the Strength of the Immigrant Experience 26:23

7M ago26:23

26:23

In this episode of Sloanies Talking with Sloanies, host Christopher Reichert sits down with Raafet Azzouz, a 2024 Sloan Fellow at MIT Sloan, to explore his remarkable journey from a small town in Tunisia to global finance and entrepreneurship. Raafet shares how his early love for mathematics and humanities shaped his academic path through France, u…

1
A Conversation With Former Dean David Schmittlein 18:56

8M ago18:56

18:56

In this episode from 2019, Christopher Reichert, MOT ‘04, sat down with David Schmittlein, former Dean (2007–2024) and Professor of Marketing at the MIT Sloan School of Management, to discuss many topics, including where he found inspiration in his personal and professional life. Support the show Thanks for listening! Find more episodes on the Sloa…

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Jane Calvert: The Imperative to Study America's Founding 27:25

8M ago27:25

27:25

In this episode, ACTA Vice President of Policy Bradley Jackson talks with Jane Calvert, director of the John Dickinson Writings Project and a member of ACTA's National Commission on American History and Civic Education. They contend that the study of history is less about rote memorization and more like being a detective excavating an unsolved myst…

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Executive Leadership Series: Tobin Williams 43:44

8M ago43:44

43:44

In today's episode, we feature Tobin Williams, former Senior Vice President of Human Resources at Stellantis. This exclusive audio was recorded during Texas A&M's Master of Engineering Technical Management's (METM) Executive Leadership Speaker Series, where Tobin spoke to METM students, faculty, and guests. He reflects on his leadership journey tha…

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Juniata College: Embracing Debate from the Campus to Classroom 1:08:44

8M ago1:08:44

1:08:44

In this episode, Sadie Webb, ACTA's Associate Director of the College Debates and Discourse (CD&D) Alliance, discusses the Alliance's extensive work with faculty and student leaders at Juniata College. Dean of Students Matthew Damschroder, Dean of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Derek James, and four students share how participating in classroom an…

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Jon Hardister: Theory and Practice of Excellent University Governance 24:30

9M ago24:30

24:30

ACTA's chief of staff and SVP, Armand Alacbay, sits down with Jon Hardister, who once chaired North Carolina's House Education Committee, and now serves as a trustee at Western Carolina University. Hear his insider insights on the key role trustees play in university governance, student success, and protecting free speech on campus.…

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EQ in Action at MIT's Lincoln Lab: A Deep Dive with EQ Coach John Hughes 26:15

9M ago26:15

26:15

In today's episode, we sit down with John Hughes, President & EQ-I Executive Coach at EI Assessments. John has extensive experience in EQ assessments and coaching for leadership and executive development across various industries. Recently, John worked with 112 Lincoln Lab Group Leaders, Assistant Group Leaders, and professional staff, conducting p…

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Centaur Labs is conquering AI for medical labeling - CEO Erik Duhaime 50:53

9M ago50:53

50:53

We sit down with Centaur Labs founder and CEO Erik Duhaime. Duhaime — and his company —are alums of our delta V accelerator program. Centaur Labs was born out of research at the MIT Center for Collective Intelligence, which explores how people and computers can be organized so that – collectively – they act more intelligently than any person, group…

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Ohio Senator Jerry Cirino: Fortifying Open Discourse in the Buckeye State 33:56

9M ago33:56

33:56

ACTA president Michael Poliakoff speaks to Ohio Senator Jerry Cirino, vice chair of the Senate's Higher Education Committee, on his promise to enact legislation to enhance the quality of higher education in the Buckeye State. Senator Cirino aims to safeguard open discourse and intellectual diversity for both students and faculty, mandate institutio…

1
Mitch Daniels: The Heart of the Academic Enterprise 29:32

9M ago29:32

29:32

Focusing on the role of higher education in preparing young Americans for citizenship, ACTA's president Michael Poliakoff speaks with Mitch Daniels, former Governor of Indiana, who also served as president of Purdue University from 2013 to 2022.

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Joshua Dunn: Intellectual Diversity and Informed Patriotism 36:01

10M ago36:01

36:01

ACTA's president Michael Poliakoff speaks with the distinguished scholar and education leader, Joshua Dunn, who took on leadership of the recently established Institute of American Civics at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville in June, 2023. Professor Dunn was previously the executive director of the Center for the Study of Government and the Ind…

1
METM Alumni Spotlight: Martin Atchison 21:49

10M ago21:49

21:49

In today's episode, we are spotlighting an alumnus of Texas A&M University's Master of Engineering Technical Management (METM), a degree that prepares engineering and technology professionals to become the leaders of the future. We dive into Martin’s experience in the METM program and explore how the skills he gained—like prioritizing self-care, fo…

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Aaron Sibarium - On the Record 1:06:39

10M ago1:06:39

1:06:39

ACTA's Paul and Karen Levy Fellow in Campus Freedom, Steve McGuire, interviews Aaron Sibarium, a journalist who writes for the Washington Free Beacon. Sibarium graduated in 2018 from Yale University, where he was the opinion editor of The Yale Daily News. Much of his reporting for the Free Beacon focuses on issues in higher education, and he has au…

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Peter Skerry: Embracing Uncomfortable Campus Conversations 43:54

11M ago43:54

43:54

Higher Ed Now producer Doug Sprei interviews Peter Skerry, professor of political science at Boston College, who has served as a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and research fellow at the American Enterprise Institute. He has been featured in a variety of scholarly and national media publications, and is the author of Counting on the Cen…

1
The Power of EQ in Leadership: A Conversation with Ryan Holt 15:19

11M ago15:19

15:19

In this episode, Ryan Holt, Manufacturing Engineering & Facilities Manager at Dover Precision Components, dives into the powerful role empathy plays in building positive professional relationships. Ryan shares how fostering empathy can strengthen workplace culture, drive team engagement, and help leaders advance their agendas effectively. As a facu…

1
Tire Tutor CEO Jason Abrahams laces up his start-up skates 53:55

11M ago53:55

53:55

Tire Tutor is the “only true all-in-one solution in the automotive industry,” and it was born right here at MIT’s Trust Center. In this episode, we sit down with CEO Jason Abrahams, an alumni of our delta V accelerator program, to chat about building a start-up from the ground up. TireTutor’s products include a modern POS with integrated tire order…

1
Henna Karna, EMBA ’18, on Innovation, AI, and the MIT Sloan Experience 32:20

11M ago32:20

32:20

In this episode of Sloanies Talking with Sloanies, Christopher Reichert interviews Henna Karna, EMBA ’18, who reflects on her academic and professional journey. Karna discusses how Sloan’s blend of quantitative and qualitative learning has shaped her approach to innovation, emphasizing engineering new patterns over relying on existing use cases. Wi…

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Neurobionics - Medtech success out of delta V 35:20

11M ago35:20

35:20

A Med-Tech Success from delta V! Neurobionics is a delta V alumni company founded by MJ Antonini, Phd. and Nicky Driscoll, Phd. In this episode, Chris and the co-founders chat about their tiny, implantable, neuromodulation technology, the roadmap of an entrepreneur, and the Trust Center’s delta V program. https://neurobionics.io/about/our-team/…

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A Conversation with Admiral Thad Allen, SF ’89, and Frank Finelli, SM ’86 43:33

12M ago43:33

43:33

In this special episode of Sloanies Talking with Sloanies, host Christopher Reichert, MOT ’04, sits down with two distinguished guests: Admiral Thad Allen, SF ’89, former Commandant of the United States Coast Guard, and Frank Finelli, SM ’86, a senior advisor at The Carlyle Group and founder of the MIT Sloan Veterans Fund. Together, they discuss th…

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Alumni Free Speech Advocacy at MIT: Wayne Stargardt and Peter Bonilla 43:32

12M ago43:32

43:32

For the past several years, ACTA has collaborated with the Alumni Free Speech Alliance (AFSA) to defend free expression, academic freedom, and viewpoint diversity on college and university campuses. With hundreds of alumni advocates across 27 institutions, AFSA represents a national movement empowering alumni to exert positive, meaningful influence…

1
Unlocking Leadership Potential: A Conversation with Kip Gary, CEO of the Brock Group 24:03

12M ago24:03

24:03

In today's episode, Ahmed Mahmoud, retired CIO of Global Manufacturing and GPSC at General Motors, sits down to interview Kip Gary. With his career leading him to becoming the current CEO of the Brock Group, Kip discusses his experienced insight on how leaders can rise to their full potential. Kip shares practical advice, personal stories, and key …

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Core Texts in a Hispanic Context: a Special Spanish Episode of Higher Ed Now 59:37

1y ago59:37

59:37

In this episode of Higher Ed Now, the second of two conversations devoted to core texts, ACTA's Academic Affairs Fellow Veronica Bryant speaks in Spanish with Clemente Cox, classics and philosophy scholar and the Academic Director of the Center of General Studies at the Universidad de los Andes. Their conversation includes the differences between A…

1
Breaking Barriers: Dr. Elsa Murano on Leadership and Legacy 21:38

1y ago21:38

21:38

In today's episode, METM's founding director, Dr. Ben Zoghi, sits down with Dr. Elsa Murano, the Director of the Norman Borlaug Institute for International Agriculture & Development. Dr. Murano shares her incredible leadership journey. From being appointed the Under Secretary of Agriculture for Food Safety in the U.S. Department of Agriculture to b…

1
From Engineer to Leader: A Conversation with Matthew Edghill of Lockheed Martin 18:22

1y ago18:22

18:22

In today's episode, Matthew Edghill, the Director of Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Enterprise, explores the journey from being an individual engineering team contributor to stepping into leadership roles. Matt shares his personal experience of climbing the ranks at Lockheed Martin, offering valuable insights for those navigating similar transitions. …

1
Core Texts and Enduring Questions for Today's Students 58:28

1y ago58:28

58:28

ACTA's Academic Affairs Fellow Veronica Bryant is joined by two distinguished educators and advocates for core texts in liberal education: Dr. Charlotte Thomas, Executive Director of the Association for Core Texts and Courses, or ACTC, and Dr. José María Torralba, board member of ACTC. Dr. Thomas is a Professor of Philosophy at Mercer University, w…

1
A Conversation with Stephen Boyer, SDM ’08 32:41

1y ago32:41

32:41

In this episode of Sloanies Talking with Sloanies, host Christopher Reichert, MOT ’04, interviews Stephen Boyer, SDM ’08, co-founder and chief innovation officer at Bitsight. The conversation reflects on the evolution of cybersecurity, including the complexity of cyber threats and the challenges companies face in managing risks. Boyer shares insigh…

1
Confessions of a Black Conservative: Glenn Loury 21:45

1y ago21:45

21:45

Those who listen to "The Glenn Show" will know that Professor Glenn Loury has published an extraordinary autobiography. Late Admissions: Confessions of a Black Conservative breathes the spirit of candor, intellectual openness, and personal humility that has characterized his life and work. Professor Loury is a Paulson Fellow at the Manhattan Instit…

1
Jonathan Turley: We Must Live Up to the Promise of Free Speech 55:23

1y ago55:23

55:23

Renowned legal scholar, professor, columnist, and commentator Jonathan Turley joins ACTA's Dr. Steven McGuire on Higher Ed Now to discuss why free speech has always been America's most revolutionary and indispensable right; how academia spawned the latest, and perhaps most dangerous, campaign against free speech; and why an enriching college experi…

1
METM Alumni Spotlight: Carlos Perez 20:35

1y ago20:35

20:35

In today's episode, we are spotlighting an alumni of Texas A&M University's Master of Engineering Technical Management (METM), a degree that prepares engineering and technology professionals to become the leaders of the future. Carlos Perez is a Navy combat veteran and currently works as an Offshore Maintenance Supervisor for Shell. Today, he speak…

1
The Groundwork of Campus Civil Discourse: Mark Dalhouse and Ari Miller: 45:46

1+ y ago45:46

45:46

ACTA's College Debates and Discourse (CD&D) Alliance has launched more than 300 Braver Angels debates and workshops, engaging 11,000 students at colleges and universities across the nation. CD&D employs a highly collaborative approach that engages students and faculty to lead civil debates on controversial topics. In this episode of Higher Ed Now, …